Lever actuated lifting instruments, more particularly intended for automobiles



v. L. RISET'E'O 3,321,183 LEVER ACTUATED LIFTING INSTRUMENT, MORE PARTICULARLY INTENDED FOR AUTOMOBILES 2 Sheets-5heet 1 5 6 9 7 l 6 I 9 w i 1 m. 3 2 w y d a m M i F May 23, 1967 v L. RESETTO 3,321,133

LEVER ACTUATEIS LIFTING INSTRUMENT, MORE PARTICULARLY INTENDED FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,321,183 LEVER ACTUATED LIFTING INSTRUMENT,

MORE PARTICULARLY INTENDED FOR AUTOMOBILES 7 Claims. (a. 254-431 The present invention relates to lifting instruments operating according to the lever principle, and which permit the rapid lifting of loads in some operations not necessitating the exertion of large forces, for example in lifting an automobile of which one wishes to change a wheel.

According to the invention there is provided a lifting instrument comprising a main lever member, at least one first leg member pivotably secured to the main lever member, adjacent one end thereof, for pivotal movement relative to the main lever member about a first axis perpendicular thereto, and at least one second leg member pivotably secured to the main lever member for pivotal movement relative to the main lever member about a second axis parallel to the said first axis.

On imparting to the main lever member a succession of oscillating movements alternatively about each of the two said axes, the instrument is made to rest successively on leg members which are of increasing height, and thus it is possible to gradually raise the load to the desired height.

Embodiments of lifting instruments according to the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURES 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a lifting instrument in accordance with the invention schematically in the different phases of its operation;

FIGURE illustrates a second embodiment; and

FIGURE 6 illustrates a modification of the first embodiment.

In the embodiment represented in FIGURES 1 to 4, the lit-ting instrument comprises a main lever member constituted by a bar 1 which may, for example, be a steel tube of square cross section. This tube telescopically houses a sliding extension 2, which is prevented from escaping by a stop, which is not illustrated.

For heavy loads, for example for large vehicles, a supplementary extension 3 may be provided, constituted by a tube engageable for example on the extremity of the telescopic extension 2, as illustrated in the drawing.

The bar 1 carries, at its end opposite to that from which the extension 2 projects, a nose means 4 of such dimensions that it may engage in the socket 5 with which automobiles are generally equipped for permitting easy fitting of a jack.

The nose means 4 is provided with an abutment 6 limiting its penetration in the socket, and is pivotably mounted on the end of the bar 1, preferably frictionally so as to normally maintain its position relative to the said bar, which simplifies the fitting of the instrument to the vehicle 7.

Besides the nose means 4, the bar 1 is provided with a supporting button or boss 8, allowing vehicles to be raised which are not provided with a jack-fitting device in the form of a socket.

The nose means 4 may be pivotable about an axis which is either aligned with the bar 1 or is perpendicular thereto as illustrated.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 4, the nose means 4 is pivotable about a first axis 9, and the bar 1 is also provided with a second pivoting axis 10. The axis 9 serves for pivotally mounting on the bar 1 both the nose means 3,321,183 Patented May 23, 1967 4 and two first leg members 11 and 12, which are of different lengths. Preferably each leg member 111 and 12 has two spaced legs, the shorter legs of the member 11 being disposed in the space between the two legs of the longer member 12 and being freely pivotable independently of the member 12.

In a similar manner, two leg members 13 and 14 of unequal length are pivotably mounted on the bar 1 at the axis 10.

The assembly formed by the nose means 4, axis 9 and leg :members 11 and 12 could be removable and, for example, be adapted to be sleeved into the end of the bar 1. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 6, a bifurcated member 1a, instead of the bar 1 proper, is pivoted on the axis 9, an extension 1b of the member 1a being telescoped into the adjacent end of bar 1.

The legs of the leg members 11, 12, 13 and 14 are advantageously terminated by feet, limiting and minimising their penetration into the ground under pressure in use.

The instrument first described may be used as follows:

With leg members 11 and 12 pivoted forwardly of the bar 1 and the leg members 13 and -14 pivoted rearwardly, the nose means 4 is introduced into the socket 5 of the vehicle 7 to be raised, the socket 5 being situated at a distance d from the ground. The free end of the bar 1, with its extension 2 pulled out into working position and, if necessary, equipped with the supplementary extension 3, is raised so as to allow the leg member 13 to move under gravity into a vertical position, as shown in FIGURE 1.

Downward pressure is then exerted on the bar 1 which, supported on the leg member 13, pivots about the axis 10. The vehicle is raised whilst the leg member 11 gradually moves under gravity to take up a vertical position. When this position has been reached the assembly occupies the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. If the distance d which the socket 5 has then reached is sufficient, it is not necessary to proceed further.

If not, the free end of the bar 1 is raised again, pivoting about the axis 9, until the leg member 14, which is longer than the leg member 13, has reached the vertical position. The assembly then occupies the position illustrated in FIGURE 3. The socket 5 in the vehicle is still at the distance a, from the ground.

For further raising the vehicle, pressure is once more exerted on the bar 1 until the leg member 12 assumes the vertical position. The socket 5 now lies at the distance d from the ground, as shown in FIGURE 4.

For lowering the vehicle it is sufficient to exert pressure on the bar 1 to release the leg member 12 and to push the leg member 12 and, if necessary, the leg member 11 at the same time, out of the Way and then to allow the bar to gently rise once more. Alternatively, the full series of moves effected for raising may be repeated in reverse order.

With the leg members all pivoted back along the length of the bar, the instrument is notably less cumbersome than conwentional jack means, and it may be easily accommodated either in a corner of the boot or under a seat of a vehicle.

As may be seen, the movements required in using it are both simple and rapid.

As shown in FIGURE 5 the bar 1 may be slightly curved upwards. A fifth leg member 15, shorter than the others, may be provided in order to permit the lift ing of vehicles with a very low bodywork, and the nose means 4 may form part of an angled member 16 pivoted to the bar 1 at 17, mid-way between the axes 9 and 10, which reduces by half the leverage which. must be applied.

It is evident that modifications may be made to the embodiments which have just been described, notably by the substitution of equivalent technical means, without departing in this from the framework of the present invention.

What -I claim is:

1. A lifting instrument comprising a main lever member, a plurality of first leg members of mutually different lengths and each pivotably secured to the main lever member, adjacent one end thereof, for mutually-independent pivotal movement relative to the main lever member about a first axis perpendicular thereto, and a plurality of second leg members of mutually-different lengths and each pivotably secured to the main lever member for mutually-independent pivotal movement relative to the main lever about a second axis parallel to the said first axis.

2. A lifting instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main lever member houses a telescopic extension piece adapted to project therefrom remote from the said one end thereof.

3. A lifting instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main lever member is provided near its said one end with nose means adapted for insertion into an aperture of a load to be lifted.

Y 4. A lifting. instrument as claimed in claim 3, wherein the nose means is pivotally mounted on the main lever 2 member coaxial with the said first leg members.

5. A lifting instrument as claimed in claim 3, wherein the main lever member has pivotably mounted on it,

for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to and disposed between the said first axis and said second axis an angled member having said nose means as a free end thereof.

6. A lifting instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of the said leg members are provided each With two spaced parallel legs, a shorter leg member having its two legs disposed between the two legs of a longer leg member mounted to pivot about the same one of the said first and second axes.

7. A lifting instrument as claimed in claim 3 wherein said main lever member is made out of two parts adapted to be secured to each other, said nose means and said first leg members being pivotably secured on one of the said parts whereas said second leg members are pivotably secured to the other of said parts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,510,743 10/1924 Hanson 254131 FOREIGN PATENTS 688,435 5/ 1930 France. 256,520 8/1926 Great Britain. 465,953 5/1937 Great Britain.

OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A LIFTING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A MAIN LEVER MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF FIRST LEG MEMBERS OF MUTUALLY DIFFERENT LENGTHS AND EACH PIVOTABLY SECURED TO THE MAIN LEVER MEMBER, ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF, FOR MUTUALLY-INDEPENDENT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE MAIN LEVER MEMBER ABOUT A FIRST AXIS PERPENDICULAR THERETO, AND A PLURALITY OF SECOND LEG MEMBERS OF MUTUALLY-DIFFERENT LENGTHS AND EACH PIVOTABLY SECURED TO THE MAIN LEVER MEMBER FOR MUTUALLY-INDEPENDENT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE MAIN LEVER ABOUT A SECOND AXIS PARALLEL TO THE SAID FIRST AXIS. 